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Grumpydaniel · Nov 21, 2014

Workin' on my '43 H today, gettin' it ready for plowing out the lane this winter (yes, I'm a little behind this year). Changing oil and filter, tune-up kit, etc. And that d@mn alternator has quit on me. I tried to check voltage coming from it, but getting some weird reading on my meter. Is it easier to just change it out, or should a rebuild kit be in my future?

khouse6 · Nov 21, 2014

i hear that a digital meter will not work. need an analog.

Janicholson · Nov 21, 2014

Tractor electrical systems are very noisy. Manufacturers made no attempt to shield or dampen spikes in voltage caused by ignition or other systems. Digital meters read samples of voltage on a very short time window. The sample can be taken when the ignition sends a peak voltage of 200 volts into the wires, or it could be sampled between alternator pulses of output and read voltage showing no charging. A expensive digital can filter and average these spikes. Most cannot.
Using an analog meter with a needle and scale, usually does a great job of averaging these spikes, showing accurate readings of "net" voltage.
Having your alternator checked is simple and usually indicates accurately whether you need a replacement. Jim

Grumpydaniel · Nov 22, 2014

I never thought of that. And I have an old analog meter I can use. thanks, guys!

Mark-Ia · Nov 22, 2014

Just stick a screwdriver to the back of the alt bearing. If it sticks due to magnetism it's working. If it doesn't stick rebuild the alt.

El Toro · Nov 22, 2014

My neighbor was complaining about her car battery
going dead. She said she had put her charger on the battery and the car always started.

She had taken the car to a battery warehouse and they told her battery and alternator were ok. They advised her to take the car to a Ford dealer.
She said she called the Ford dealer and they wanted $100.00 for checking the problem.

I took her some green beans and red beets and I took my multimeter along. I had her to start the engine and I saw 12.3 volts on the meter and I told her I know what your problem is, either you have a broken alternator belt or the alternator is defective. I looked under the car and the belt
was ok. I also called several repair shops and they wanted around $475.00. She took the car to one of the shops. No more battery problems. Hal

Brownie450 · Nov 22, 2014

If it's a Delco with internal regulator, you can stick a small screwdriver in the D shaped hole on the back of the alt while running & see if charging increases.
Check the brushes.
If it does increase, the regulator is bad.
Digital meters give odd readings if used around alternators because the regulator puts out all kinds of high frequency signals/ hash.

teddy52food · Nov 22, 2014

That will tell you that the rotor is energized, but if the diodes are bad it still won't charge. Best use a voltmeter.

rustyfarmall · Nov 22, 2014

Remove the alternator from the tractor and take it to somplace like NAPA, etc. They can test it for you. If it tests bad, they can sell you a new one, probably for less money than what it would cost to repair the one you have.

Snow plow

Grumpydaniel

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khouse6

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Janicholson

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Grumpydaniel

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Mark-Ia

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El Toro

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Brownie450

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teddy52food

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rustyfarmall

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